What if you could change the story of just one child?

Vulnerable Children

It is estimated that there are over 3 million orphans (at risk or vulnerable) in Kenya. Forty-seven percent are orphaned as a result of HIV and AIDS and many more remain vulnerable due to several other factors. Up to 700 children are orphaned every day (that is one child every 2 minutes.) High levels of adults affected by AIDS have left a wake of orphans in the streets.

Kenya is a country full of incredible beauty and deep challenge. It is no stranger to poverty opening the door to countless risks for children. In Kenya, 50% of the people live below the poverty level, with 23% living on less than $1 dollar per day, and nearly 40% have no employment at all. Approximately nine out of 10 children in poverty never complete basic education.

An estimated 20 percent of children – twice the national average – in Nyanza (the province Salem Orphanage is in) are orphans; nearly 80 percent of orphans and vulnerable children under 18 in the province receive no external support. Although these statistics seem daunting, there is a deep well of hope.

The long-term strategic goal of Just One Africa is to empower high capacity local leaders who are already caring for vulnerable children within their community with sustainable solutions. These solutions provide long term access to clean and safe water, quality education, life skills training, adequate safe housing, and more efficient agricultural methods. These continuing viable solutions will reduce the reliance on outside sources of funding and furnish them the means and ability to provide for themselves as well as those they care for.

Approximately 90% of children in poverty never complete basic education.

20% of children – twice the national average – in Nyanza Province are orphans.

Nearly 80% of vulnerable children under 18 in the province receive no external support

The heart of Just One Africa is to empower, equip and encourage passionate and dedicated local leaders to carry out the vision they have in their hearts to see the communities they work in become self sustaining, healthy, and set on a track for a hope-filled future!

The Importance of Student Sponsorship

Education has long been recognized as one of the key contributors to eliminating poverty. However, education comes with a separate host of problems, which varies depending on geographic location. In America, access to education is something we overlook on a daily basis. Simply, if you want to attend school you can. This is not the case for the rural villages of Kenya.

According to the UNICEF , only 36% of children attend secondary school (high school) in Sub-Saharan Africa, which includes Kenya. As this statistic shows, there is still a serious issue regarding access to quality education in Kenya.